With the rise of China and and an introspective US, the continent faces an uncertain future and a vassal status writes Slawomir Sierakowski.

Though it is — almost — the season the be jolly it is not too difficult to be pessimistic, to be cowed by the challenges facing our world.

I’ve followed and studied politics all my life.

If US intelligence agencies do not toe Donald Trump’s line, they will become public enemy number one for his base, says Kent Harrington

Far from being defeated, Islamic State continue to battle on several fronts, write Anne-Marie Slaughter and Asha C Castleberry

The government's special envoy to the US Congress since 2017 made the announcement today.

In American politics, the Republican Party's commitment to the fossil-fuel industry means that it will continue to deny climate science and favour policies that exacerbate global warming.

As the US Congress returns from a 10-day break, the question of whether the House of Representatives (controlled by the Democrats) should formally commence the process of impeaching US president Donald Trump for misdeeds committed during his tenure — and perhaps before — has split the party.

Global shares and the price of oil slumped, as President Donald Trump shocked markets by opening a new front in his world trade wars by setting a tariff demand on Mexico.

The E3 is a two-year renewable visa and is currently only available to Australian nationals.

If Nancy Pelosi had listened to her mother she might be a nun today — or more likely a Reverend Mother — but instead she set her sights firmly on politics and is now the most powerful woman in American political history.

Many US presidents didn’t see eye-to-eye with their top spies, but none has came close to the damage being wrought by the current incumbent, writes former public affairs director of the CIA, Kent Harrington.

Gone are the days in American presidential races when a candidate would rise or fall on policy differences.

The use of force against Venezuela has gained much credence by the appointment by US president Donald Trump of Elliott Abrams as his Venezuelan envoy.

It is irresponsible of US President Donald Trump to unilaterally withdraw his country from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (Irish Examiner, February 2 ).

Around 700 jobs at Aughinish Alumina in Limerick are safe for now after the US senate voted to support the White House in ending sanctions against the plant’s Russian owner.

The world presumed the US president was a pawn in his Russian counterpart’s game. It could prove to be the other way around, writes Nina L Khrushcheva.

These are good days for Ireland’s manufacturers as a resurgent economy driven by home-grown and foreign investment provide the biggest turnaround since the financial collapse 10 years ago, writes John Whelan 

Saudi Arabian crown prince Mohammed bin Salman is under immense pressure after the journalist Khashoggi disappeared, writes David A Andelman

The Department of Education’s decision not have history as a mandatory subject in the Junior Cert still raises concerns that many students may not then study it in the Leaving Cert, and so as citizens may have big gaps in knowledge of our country’s past and its impact on today.

The US government’s national security adviser, John Bolton, has never in his career in politics been slow in coming forward to criticise the International Criminal Court (ICC).

If conservative Brett Kavanaugh is appointed, he could weave president Donald Trump’s agenda into the fabric of American society for generations, writes Bette Browne.

The controversial former FBI director James Comey has said he “feels badly” that Hillary Clinton sees him as the main reason she failed to win the US presidency.

One hundred cardboard cutouts of Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg were erected this week on the lawn outside the Capitol building in Washington.

Donald Trump has threatened to pull out of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, unless it is ‘fixed’ by May 12. He would be right to follow through, according to Michael Makovsky.

Trump administration officials have said there will be no more conditions imposed on North Korea before a meeting of the two nations' leaders.

The boss of the Grafton Group has said the building merchants firm is “not constrained by geography” and is looking at further acquisitions in Europe.

A public clash between the US president and the FBI is simmering after the agency said it had "grave concerns" over the accuracy of a classified memo on the Russian collusion probe which Donald Trump wants to be released.

Peter Apps is Reuters global affairs columnist, writing on international affairs, globalization, conflict and other issues.

Oprah Winfrey is an acclaimed philanthropist, humanitarian, and global television star but she should never become president of the US — simply because she is not a politician.

Our 12.5% corporate tax rate is no longer the big clincher it once was as rivals shrink their rates and the US attempts to lure back multinationals with tax incentives, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

Ireland’s corporate tax regime faces unprecedented challenges, starting tomorrow with a meeting of EU finance ministers that seeks to advance the cause of a common digital tax, while the shape of the overhaul in US tax code should become clearer after president Donald Trump’s legislative weekend success in the US Senate.

His nomination as the next head of the US Federal Reserve means Jerome Powell is set to become one the world’s most powerful and influential individuals, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

Tech companies are not likely to be off the hook in the Russia investigation for some time to come, writes, Bette Browne 

The two countries should hold bilateral talks and air their historic grievances, or else the mistrust will deepen, says Christopher R Hill

With the US and Europe rolling back their foreign aid commitments,only China can fill the vacuum, say Asit K Biswas and Kris Hartley.

A candidate for the United States' Congress has said she stands by her claims she was abducted to an alien spaceship at the age of seven, but that the incident should not detract from what she has done here on Earth since then.

IN disavowing the hard-won 2015 Iran nuclear deal, US president Donald Trump has just made the world more dangerous for this and future generations, angering both friends and foes in the process.

While it is fair to argue that many of Iran’s actions are a legitimate cause for concern, there are not sufficient reasons to reintroduce sanctions, argues Richard N Haass.

Here's your lunchtime news bulletin.

He allegedly urged his lover to have an abortion when he thought she was pregnant.

A bill to ease laws on the purchase of gun silencers is gaining momentum even as the US reels from the horror of one of the deadliest killings in its history, writes Bette Browne.

Deporting these young immigrants would adversely affect the labour supply as well as consumer demand, writes Michael R Bloomberg

Handing the immigration hot potato to a chaotic, factionalised majority party on Capitol Hill